Sectional switch block base



H. E- REYNOLDS SBCTIONAL SIITCH BLOCK BASE March 22, 1949.

Filed lay 12, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 lllll lll.ll\

3nventor Herbert EBay/adds a %Iflomeg5 March 22, 1949. H. E. REYNOLDS 2,465,039

, SECTIQNAL S'ITCH BLOCK BASE Filed lay 12, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lnventor a Herbert E Reynolds QM mtomegs Patented Mar. 22, 1949 sec'rromr. swrrcn BLOCK BASE Herbert E. Reynolds, Canton, Ohio, assignor to Superior Switchboard and Devices Company, Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 12, 1945, Serial No. 593,515

Claims.

The invention relates to electrical switches and more particularly to a sectional switch block or base especially adapted for use in test switches;

Under present practice switches of this character are mounted upon a base or block comprising a solid block of ebony asbestos or similar insulation material. Switches of this character are made up in a great variety of designs and combinations requiring various sizes of switch blocks or bases for mounting the same.

This necessitates cutting up blocks of ebony asbestos or the like to the required size and shape, bevelling or rounding the edges and corners. drilling holes at proper points forthe connection of the various switch units, covers, etc., and painting the switch block or base thus produced, all of which requires considerable time and labor.

It is frequently desirable or necessary to change the arrangement of such switches or to add other elements thereto, this requiring the construction of a new block or base cut to the necessary sizeand shape and drilled with apertures at suitable points for connection of the switch elements thereto.

The object of the present invention is to provide a switch block or base formed of a plurality of similar sections of Bakelite or other suitable molded plastic material, with apertures for tie rods or tubes for detachably connecting the sections together, whereby with, a few interchangeable parts practically all combinations may be obtained to meet all meter test and relay test switch requirements.

Another object is the provision of such a switch block or base with means for connecting the sections together in any desired combination for any number of poles or spaces.

A further object is to provide a sectional switch block or base of this character in which the sections are reversible so as to permit potential switches to be mounted with the handles down in closed position if desired.

A still further object is to provide a sectional switch block in which the sections are dowelled so as to be accurately aligned both horizontally and vertically.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a sectional switch block in which end sections are arranged to provide means for holding cover studs upon which conventional glass or metal covers may be mounted over the switch.

A still further object is to provide a switch of this character in which apertures are molded in each section in proper position for attaching switch elements and the like thereto. In some cases these apertures may be closed at the upper or front side by a thin web which may be knocked out when it is desired to use the same for attaching a switch element thereto, although if desired.

certain ones or'all the apertures may be formed entirely through the sections. 7

Still another object is the provision of such a sectional switch block or base by which any combination of circuit or potential elements may be obtained by rearrangement of separate sections.

} Another object is to provide a sectional switch base by means of which any standard arrangement of switch may be quickly and easily con verted to any other arrangement.

A further object is the provision of a sectional switch block or base which may be built up in any standard base size so as to accomodate standard size glass or metal covers.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a switch base in which sealing wax or the like is not required for sealing the screw apertures in the back of the base, a plate of. Mlcarta or the like being seated in the back of the base.

The above objects, together with others which will be apparent from the drawings and following description, or which may be hereinafter referred to, may be attained by constructing the improved sectional switch base in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which;

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a conventional arrangement of test switch as constructed with the improved sectional switch base, parts being broken away for the purpose of illustration;

Fig. 2 a bottom or rear plan view of the switch shown in Fig. 1 with parts broken away for the purpose of illustration;

Fig. 3 a transverse sectional view taken as on the line 3-3, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 a sectional view through one of the switch base sections taken on the same plane as Fig. 3 and showing the base section in the original condition before the switch element has been mounted thereon; T

Fig. 5 a perspective view of a filler section such as may be used if desired in the construction of the sectional switch base;

Fig. 6 a, section on the line 6-6, Fig. 1, showing the manner in which the sections of the switch a base are detachably connected together;

Fig. '7 a perspective view of one of the end sections of the improved switch base;

Fig. 8 a perspective view of one of the intermediate sections of the base showing the top and one side thereof, and;

Fig. 9 a similar view showing the bottom and one side of the same.

The improved switch base is made up of a plurality of similar sections indicated generally at Ill molded from Bakelite or other suitable insulation material. Each section is substantially square in cross section and of a length corresponding to the width of the conventional switch block or base.

A transversely disposed opening II is formed through each end portion of each of the sections I to accommodate the tie rods or tubes I2 by means of which the several sections of the base are held in assembled condition.

For the purpose of lining up the several sections accurately both horizontally and vertically, sockets I3 are formed in each side of each section I0 to receive the dowel plugs I4 which fit snugly within sockets I3 in opposed sides of two adjacent sections and hold the sections in proper alignment when they are connected together by the tie rods or tubes I2.

A socket or aperture I5 is formed through the rear surface of each intermediate section I 9, and shouldered or reduced near the front surface thereof as indicated at I6, terminating at a point near the front surface and leaving a thin web H which may be punched out when these openings are to be used for attaching a switch element. These openings are designed to receive terminal studs I8 for attaching wires to the terminals I9 of any conventional type of switch element such as the current switches 20 or potential switches indicated at 2011 or various types of test switch elements such as the jacks indicated generally at 2I and the short circuit clips 22.

As in usual practice, test cars 23 of any conventional design may be attached to the terminals I9 of the various switch elements by means of the terminal studs I8 and the usual terminal nuts 24, providing means for the attachment of any conventional form of test clip.

Sockets 25 are formed through the rear side of each intermediate section III at points between the center and the sockets I5, and terminating in the reduced portions 26 toward the front side of the section, the thin webs 21 at the front side of the section being adapted to be punched out when these sockets or apertures are to be used.

Attaching screws 28 may be located through the sockets 25 for attaching the terminals I9 of the various switch elements to the switch base section It]. A similar socket or aperture 29 is formed at the center of each section I0 and nor mally closed at its front end by the thin web 30, this socket being provided for receivin a screw 3I for attaching the central short circuit strip 32 of one of the test switch elements as shown at 2| and 22.

In cases where a current or potential switch element 20 is mounted upon the section II], the socket or aperture 29 is not used, in which case the thin web 30 over the front of the same remains intact as best shown in Fig. 3.

Half round sockets 33 may be provided in opposite sides of each section III and normally closed at their front sides by the thin webs 34, these sockets being provided for attaching a novel form of insulation barrier which forms the subject matter of a copending application, Serial No. 595,909, filed May 26, 1945, now abandoned.

A rib 35 is formed at each end of each section I0 upon the rear side thereof so that when a plurality of these sections are ganged together and connected by the tie rods or tubes I2 and nuts 36, these ribs form a continuous rib along each side of the rear of the switch block or base as best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

If it is desired to provide the customary glass or metal cover for the switch a special design of end section 31 may be provided for each end of the sectional switch block, constructed and arranged so as to support the cover attaching studs 38 which form the subject matter of a copending application Serial No. 593,945 filed May 15, 1945, now abandoned.

Each of the end sections 31 is provided near each end with the transverse apertures 39 to receive the end portions of the tie rods I2, these apertures being enlarged at the outer sides of the sections 31 as indicated at 40 to receive the nuts 36. A squared boss M is formed upon the front surface of each end section 31 provided with a slot 42 to receive the cover attaching stud 38.

If desired, filler sections, such as indicated generally at 43, and shown in detail in Fig. 5, may be inserted between certain other sections of the sectional base, bein shown in the drawings as located between the end sections 31 and the next adjacent intermediate sections Ill. These filler sections are also molded from Bakelite or other insulation material, the same as the sections III and 31, but are of considerably less thickness.

Each filler section is provided at its rear side with the lugs 44 at opposite ends adapted to register with the ribs 35 of the intermediate sections and is provided near each end with an aperture 46 to receive the tie rods I2.

Apertures 41 are provided through each filler section 43 to register with the sockets I3 and I3a of the intermediate sections I0 and end sections 31, to receive dowel plugs I4 for holding the sections in alignment.

Apertures 48 may be formed through opposite end portions of the end sections 31 to receive attaching screws or bolts by means of which the sectional test switch may be attached to a switchboard or panelboard in usual and ordinary manner,

After the switch sections are assembled and attached together in the manner above described and illustrated in the drawings, the back of the switch block may be covered with a plate 49 of Micarta or other suitable insulation material inserted within the recess formed between the spaced rows of ribs 35 on the rear sides of the intermediate sections.

This obviates the necessity of using sealing wax or the like for covering the heads of the various screws located through the switch block sections for attaching the switch elements. Where front connected switches are used, a blank or imperiorate plate 49 is provided but in case back connection studs are used, as indicated at 50, the Micarta plate may be perforated as shown at 5I to accommodate the same.

With this construction, it will be seen that any desired size of switch block may be quickly and easily assembled by using the desired number of sections and any combination of current or potential elements may be obtained by attaching the desired switch elements to the sections I0 of the switch block and arranging the several units in any desired relative position.

It will be obvious that with the sectional switch block as above described it will be possible with a few interchangeable parts to produce practically any combination necessary to meet all meter test and relay test switch requirements, thus making it unnecessary for the manufacturer to make up and carry in stock a large variety of switch combinations.

The combination and arrangement of the switch may be changed as desired by rearranging the several units or adding others thereto so that any standard arrangement of switch may be easily converted to any other standard arrangement.

I claim:

1. A sectional switch base comprising a plurality of similar, molded elongated, substantially rectangular insulation sections, each section having apertures therethrough from the front to the rear means located in the apertures of each section for attaching a switch element registering half round sockets in opposed sides of adjacent sections, a thin breakable web in the front of each socket adapted to be punched out to form round apertures for the attachment of elements between the sections and means for accurately aligning the sections horizontally and vertically, and means for connecting the several sections rigidly together.

2. A sectional switch base comprising a plurality of similar, molded elongated, substan ially rectangular insulation sections, each section having apertures therethrough from the front to the rear means located in the apertures of each section for attaching a switch element, the sections having registering sockets in opposed sides, dowel plugs in said sockets for aligning the sections horizontally and vertically, means for connectin the several sections rigidly together, rearwardly disposed ribs at the ends of each section and an insulation plate located in the recess between said ribs.

3. A sectional switch base comprising a plurality of similar, molded insulation sections, each section having apertures therethrough extending from the hack to a point near the front of the section, a thin, breakable web at the front of each aperture adapted to be punched out, each section having a transverse aperture through each end portion, sockets in opposite sides of each section and transverse, rearwardly disposed ribs at the ends of each section, and an insulation plate located on the rear of the switch base between said rearwardly disposed ribs.

4. A sectional switch base comprising a plurality of similar, molded insulation sections, means upon each section for attaching a switch element, a molded insulation end section at each end of the sectional switch base, a boss upon each end section having an inverted T-shape slot therein for attaching a cover stud, and means for connecting the several sections rigidly together.

5. A sectional switch base comprising a plurality of similar, molded insulation sections, means upon each section for attaching a switch element,

a molded insulation end section at each end of the sectional switch base, a boss upon each end section having an inverted T-shape slot therein for attaching a cover stud, and tie rods located through the sections for connecting the several sections rigidly together.

6. A sectional switch base comprising a plurality of similar, molded insulation sections, means upon each section for attaching a switch element, a molded insulation end section at each end of the sectional switch base, a boss upon each end section having an inverted T-shape slot therein for attaching a cover stud, all of the sections having registering sockets in opposed sides, dowel plugs in said sockets for aligning the sections horizontally and vertically, and means for connecting the several sections rigidly together.

7. A sectional switch base comprising a plurality of similar, molded insulation sections, means upon each section for attaching a switch element, a molded insulation end section at each end of the sectional switch base, a boss upon each end sectionhaving inverted T-shape slot therein for attaching a cover stud, all of the sections having registering sockets in opposed sides, dowel plugs in said sockets for aligning the sections horizontally and vertically relatively thin insulation filler sections between certain of said sections having apertures therethrough aligned with said sockets for receiving certain of the dowel plugs, and tie rods located through the sections for connecting the several sections rigidly together.

8. A sectional switch base comprising a plurality of similar, molded insulation sections having transversely disposed apertures near their ends, tie rods located through said apertures for connecting the several sections rigidly together, the sections having apertures therethrough from the rear to the front, screws located through the last named apertures and switch elements attached to the front sides of the sections by said screws, rearwardly disposed ribs at the endsjof the sections, and an insulation plate located over the rear sides of all of the sections between said ribs.

9. A sectional switch base comprising a plurality of similar, molded intermediate insulation sections, a molded insulation end section at each end of the switch base, a boss upon each end section having an inverted T-shape slot for attaching a cover stud, the intermediate sections having apertures therethrough from the rear to the front, screws located through said, apertures, switch elements attached to the front faces of the intermediate sections by said screws, all of said sections having transversely disp sed apertures therethrough and tie rods located through the transversely disposed apertures for connecting the several sections rigidly together.

10. A sectional switch base comprising a plurality .of similar, molded, intermediate insulation sections substantially square in cross section and having apertures therethrough from the rear to the front, screws located through certain of said apertures, switch elements attached to the front faces of the intermediate sections by said screws, terminal studs located through certain of the apertures for connecting wires to the terminals of the switch elements, a molded insulation end section at each end of the switch base, a boss upon each end section having an inverted T-shape slot for attaching a cover stud, rearwardly disposed ribs at the ends of the intermediate sections, all of said sections having transversely disposed apertures therethrough, tie rods located through the transversely disposed apertures for connecting the several sections rigidly together, an insulation plate located over the rear sides of the intermediate sections between said rearwardly disposed ribs, said insulation plate having apertures therein registering with said terminal studs, and the end sections having apertures therethrough from the front to the rear to receive screws for attaching the switch base to a support.

HERBERT E. moms.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UHITED STATES PATENTS 

